Comments on: Baling in Wet Weather http://www.strawbale.com/baling-in-wet-weather The World's Leader in Straw Bale Education Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:54:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Andrew http://www.strawbale.com/baling-in-wet-weather/comment-page-1#comment-28146 Andrew Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:33:19 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/?p=1008#comment-28146 That's a tough one Cathy. I would strongly recommend you get a bale moisture meter with a probe so you can reach the center of your bales. If the centers are wet, chances are they won't dry out very well. The problem is that once in the middle of the bale, the moisture creates its own environment for mold growth. There is warmth, from the decay, which creates moisture, driven out of the straw (whatever little moisture there is to begin with), and the cycle continues. This is the problem with getting the bales wet from the top: it drops into the middle of the bales and is almost impossible to get out. It's possible that the damage is only on the top couple layers of bales though, which would be good. Get yourself a meter and see what happened. It may be a major bummer, but it will be better than building with wet and moldy bales. Here's a link for a meter: http://www.delmhorst.com/products_hay.html That’s a tough one Cathy. I would strongly recommend you get a bale moisture meter with a probe so you can reach the center of your bales. If the centers are wet, chances are they won’t dry out very well. The problem is that once in the middle of the bale, the moisture creates its own environment for mold growth. There is warmth, from the decay, which creates moisture, driven out of the straw (whatever little moisture there is to begin with), and the cycle continues. This is the problem with getting the bales wet from the top: it drops into the middle of the bales and is almost impossible to get out.

It’s possible that the damage is only on the top couple layers of bales though, which would be good. Get yourself a meter and see what happened. It may be a major bummer, but it will be better than building with wet and moldy bales.

Here’s a link for a meter: http://www.delmhorst.com/products_hay.html

]]> By: cathy sellers http://www.strawbale.com/baling-in-wet-weather/comment-page-1#comment-28145 cathy sellers Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:13:25 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/?p=1008#comment-28145 Hi Andrew, thanks for being so forthcoming with your expertise.I have a ?. Some of my bales are moldy, as I have discovered when taking them apart to use for other things. They look fine on the outside though, and may just have a little area in the middle. Is there a way to tell if they are moldy (a mold meter??) or, how bad is the middle mold? I have had trouble with wind. The tarp was great but the gale force winds stripped it just before the torrential rains. I have since learned that pails of cement at the anchor points work better than stakes screwed into the ground with ever increasing depth and exasperation, just in time to be stripped before the next rain! Thanks Andrew Hi Andrew, thanks for being so forthcoming with your expertise.I have a ?. Some of my bales are moldy, as I have discovered when taking them apart to use for other things. They look fine on the outside though, and may just have a little area in the middle. Is there a way to tell if they are moldy (a mold meter??) or, how bad is the middle mold? I have had trouble with wind. The tarp was great but the gale force winds stripped it just before the torrential rains. I have since learned that pails of cement at the anchor points work better than stakes screwed into the ground with ever increasing depth and exasperation, just in time to be stripped before the next rain! Thanks Andrew

]]> By: Andrew http://www.strawbale.com/baling-in-wet-weather/comment-page-1#comment-27221 Andrew Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:58:39 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/?p=1008#comment-27221 Stacking the bales inside is a good option David. You'll need to make sure that your subcontractors have adequate space to move around and do their work in the meantime. It's a good idea to stack the bales in several small piles through out the house rather than in one large one in the middle of the building. This way, they are staged near wear you'll need them. Of course, keep them out of wind driven rain reach. Stacking the bales inside is a good option David. You’ll need to make sure that your subcontractors have adequate space to move around and do their work in the meantime. It’s a good idea to stack the bales in several small piles through out the house rather than in one large one in the middle of the building. This way, they are staged near wear you’ll need them. Of course, keep them out of wind driven rain reach.

]]> By: David Tyler http://www.strawbale.com/baling-in-wet-weather/comment-page-1#comment-27219 David Tyler Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:20:24 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/?p=1008#comment-27219 What about stacking the bales inside the house? Assuming you have the roof in place and are using a frame construction/infill process. What about stacking the bales inside the house? Assuming you have the roof in place and are using a frame construction/infill process.

]]> By: Charles Court http://www.strawbale.com/baling-in-wet-weather/comment-page-1#comment-27095 Charles Court Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:49:20 +0000 http://www.strawbale.com/?p=1008#comment-27095 Good update. When I got back from the Grant's workshop I was in a panic to get the bales. Well now I have them and the workshop is not until June 14, 2010. I hope they last because they are really tigh bales.....thanks Andrew Good update. When I got back from the Grant’s workshop I was in a panic to get the bales. Well now I have them and the workshop is not until June 14, 2010. I hope they last because they are really tigh bales…..thanks Andrew

]]>